“Not to mention hang out with us,” Paul added. “We’re the fun uncles,” he said blankly.
“They ‘called’ you? You have phone service in the mountains?”
“Maybe,” Saul replied. “Depends on the day and whether or not the line is up.”
“We’re in the phone book,” Paul announced, as if it were an accomplishment.
Goldie looked at the deadpan faces of the entire family and took a deep breath. “Alrighty then. You crazy kids try to keep it to a low rumble tonight. Merry Christmas.”
“Yup,” Saul said.
“Adios,” Paul nodded.
She continued moving through the crowd toward the podium and got about ten feet in front of it when Mayor Banyan stepped up to the microphone.
“Could I have everyone’s attention, please?” he asked.
The choral group stopped singing, and everyone quieted down. Peter came up next to her with two paper cups of hot chocolate and a strap slung over his shoulder for his camera bag. He and Goldie didn’t have a prearranged date, but she was secretly hoping she’d run into him.
“Hi,” he greeted. “Thought you might need this.”
He handed her a cup, and she smiled, delighted.
“Ay! Thanks!”
“I always want a drink when my father makes a speech,” he joked. “But I admit, it’s usually something stronger.”
She laughed, then dipped a hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out a tissue to dispose of her gum.
“I want to thank everyone for coming out,” the mayor began, “as we celebrate the beginning of the Sparkledove Christmas season with the annual lighting of the community tree.” He spotted and gestured to Goldie. “Being covered this year, I might add, by Karen ‘Goldie’ Maraschino, a famous journalist fromAdventure Escape Magazine.”
The crowd applauded as Goldie’s face turned red.
“Oh, Jesus,” she moaned. “Hundreds of people just saw me spit my gum into a Kleenex.”
“Congratulations,” Peter said quietly. “You’ve just become a PR tool.”
“As we’ve done in years past,” Banyan continued. “We’ve got music, food, plenty of holiday cheer, and all the stores are staying open until 10:00 p.m. for your shopping convenience. And be sure to get a Calendar of Events flier being handed out by our volunteers listing the dates and times of all the other activities coming up in town over the next few weeks.”
Goldie glanced around and saw a few people starting to pass fliers out amongst the crowd. Peter’s mom, Stephie, was among them.
“As everyone knows, this is a very unusual Christmas with so many of our boys serving far from home. So, to honor them, and in accordance with President Roosevelt’s recommendation, we’ll be turning off the tree at 10:00, then imposing blackout conditions. But, until then, please enjoy yourselves and the wonderful hospitality of Sparkledove.”
The crowd applauded again. As they did, Peter leaned into Goldie.
“Notice how he totally ignored the president’s recommendation yet made it sound like he didn’t?”
“He’s a smoothie,” she admitted.
“That comment, incidentally, was off the record,” he reminded.
“Of course,” she agreed.
“And now,” Banyan smiled. “I’d like to invite six-year-old Patty Bellows and her folks up to the stage. Patty asked me months ago if she could throw the big light switch this year, and I said yes. So, I want her to grow up knowing there’s at least one politician who keeps his promises.”
The crowd laughed and applauded as a curly-haired girl who looked a little like a young Shirley Temple was carried up to the stage in the arms of her father, with her mom following close behind.
“Hold this, will you?” Peter said, handing Goldie his cup. As she took it, he slid the camera bag off his shoulder, opened it up, and took out his camera. He also took out a flash attachment and connected it to the camera.
